English sentences have three basic elements: a subject, a verb, and an object. For active voice sentences, the verb is the action element of the sentence, the subject is the "doer" of the action, and the object is the recipient of the action. Active sentences have their three elements in this order: subject, verb, object. This is not true for sentences constructed in the passive voice. The subject is not "doer" of the action; the object becomes the "doer" of the action. These sentences flip-flop the subject and the object. For example, consider the following sentences:
Active voice:
Laura invited Nancy to a party this Saturday night at 8:00.
Robins eat huge amounts of earth worms every spring.
Farmers predominantly raise corn and hogs in Iowa.
Scholars have translated that book into sixteen different languages.
Passive voice:
Nancy was invited to a party this Saturday night at 8:00.
Huge amounts of earth worms are eaten every spring by robins.
Predominantly, corn and hogs are raised in Iowa.
This book has been translated into sixteen different languages.
Many times we are given the advice to avoid the passive voice. Usually, good writing uses the active voice and shuns the passive. However, sometimes the active voice is awkward or inappropriate. We use the passive voice frequently in speaking and writing--quite appropriately.
The first sentence, above, about the party, is a good example of this. The active voice sentence focuses on Laura, the person who did the inviting. The passive voice sentence focuses on Nancy, a potential party attendee. Deciding which sentence is best depends on your focus--what you wish to stress. When considering the last example sentence (the one about the book translation), the passive voice version actually sounds much better because we wish to focus on the book (which received the action of translation) not on the agent or person who performed the action.
As a general rule, however, the active voice is shorter, more direct, and more dynamic than the passive voice. When you are writing, try to find all of your passive sentences and change them into the active voice. Keep those sentences for which this is an improvement and return to your first construction for the others.
Reasons to use the passive voice:
Examples:
The agent is common knowledge:
George Washington was elected in 1789. After serving two terms, he decided not to run again. A custom was established at that time to serve for no longer than two terms. It was not until President Roosevelt was elected to his third and fourth terms that this custom was changed.
The agent is unimportant:
Mount Vernon was built not far from Washington, DC on the Potomac River. Historians do not know exactly when the house was constructed; however, we do know that it was owned by many generations of the Washington family before George lived there. Many sections were planned and added when the first president lived there.
The agent is unknown:
Most of our coins are minted in Philadelphia, but some are minted in Denver. Many minerals are used to make coins: copper, zinc, and silver. Pennies are made mostly of copper. Gold isn't used in coins any more, and dimes and quarters have no silver.
Reasons to use the active voice:
Forming the passive:
The passive voice can be recognized through the use of a "double verb" and is formed by using a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of another verb. The past participle of regular verbs is -ed added to the base form (such as mailed, walked, performed, stopped, surprised, etc.). Irregular verbs have different forms of the past participle (such as taught, bitten, rung, shut, etc.).
This is an example of the verb "stop" in the various forms of the passive:
is stopped
was stopped
is being stopped
has been stopped
was being stopped
had been stopped
is going to be stopped
will be stopped
can be stopped
should be stopped
ought to be stopped
must be stopped
has to be stopped
may be stopped
might be stopped
used to be stopped
Here is the verb "stop" in the various forms of the active:
stops
stopped
is stopping
has stopped
was stopping
had stopped
is going to stop
will stop
can stop
should stop
ought to stop
must stop
has to stop
may stop
might stop
used to stop
Here are the different forms of the verb "to be": be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being.
Sometimes, although the main focus is on the recipient of the action, it is also important to mention the "doer" of the action. In this case, we use a by phrase to indicate who or what performed the action:
The earth worms are eaten by robins.
The contract was signed by everyone.
The bells are being rung every hour by our staff members.
Not all verbs can be used to form the passive voice. Only transitive verbs (verbs that are followed by an object) can form the passive.
Here are some common intransitive verbs: agree, arrive, come, cry, depart, exist, fall, go, happen, live, occur, rain, rise, sleep, stay, take place, stand, walk. These verbs will not form the passive voice.
The passive can occur in different verb tenses:
|
|
|
|
|
Simple Present |
My teacher helps me. |
I am helped by my teacher. |
|
Simple Past |
My teacher helped me. |
I was helped by my teacher. |
|
Future |
My teacher will help me. My teacher is going to help me. |
I will be helped by my teacher. I am going to be helped by my teacher. |
|
Present Perfect |
My teacher has helped me. |
I have been helped by my teacher. |
|
Past Perfect |
My teacher had helped me. |
I had been helped by my teacher. |
|
Future Perfect |
My teacher will have helped me tomorrow. |
I will have been helped by my teacher tomorrow. |
|
Present Progressive |
My teacher is helping me. |
I am being helped by my teacher. |
|
Past Progressive |
My teacher was helping me. |
I was being helped by my teacher. |
Sentences with modal expressions can also have passive constructions:
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|
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They |
can |
be |
stopped |
for speeding. |
|
She |
should |
be |
arrested |
by the police. |
|
I |
ought to |
be |
helped |
with the dishes. |
|
You |
have to |
be |
surprised |
by the gift. |
|
We |
must |
be |
finished |
when he gets here. |
|
You |
had better |
be |
done |
by next week. |
|
It |
is supposed to |
be |
destroyed |
by noon. |
|
He |
might |
be |
gone |
already. |
Passive Practice:
Put the following sentences in the passive voice:
1. Children cannot open these bottles easily.
2. The government built a road right outside her front door.
3. The new statue stands in a shady section of the park.
4. When she arrived, the changes amazed her.
5. The construction workers are making street repairs all month long.
6. The party will celebrate his retirement.
7. His professors were discussing his oral exam right in front of him.
8. The snake has replaced its skin many times.
9. Corrosion had damaged the hull of the ship.
10. Some children were visiting the old homestead while I was there.
Put the following sentences in the active voice:
11. The statue is being visited by hundreds of tourists every year.
12. My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
13. These books had been left in the classroom by a careless student.
14. Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation workers..
15. Their home had been broken into by someone while they were on vacation .
16. A woman was being carried downstairs by a very strong firefighter.
17. The streets around the fire had been blocked off by the police.
18. Have you seen the new movie that was directed by Ron Howard?
19. My car is in the garage being fixed by a dubious mechanic.
20. A great deal of our oil will have been exported to other countries by our government.
Click on the link to find the answers.
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